With some pathways to tertiary entry looking for skills such as leadership and community service, Beaconhills’ Certificate of Excellence is an increasingly valuable addition to a students’ future CVs.

Students develop a deeper understanding of their strengths and how they can contribute meaningfully to causes beyond themselves, while developing core skills in ‘Design Thinking’ – a human-centred way of solving problems through empathy, creativity and experimentation.

Whether it is solving an environmental problem or helping address food insecurity by cooking meals for local charities as the Pakenham Salvos or Follow Bless Collective, students work together with the overall aim of making the world a better place.

This year, 66 students completed the program, with 14 students awarded gold certificates for their exceptional personal growth and perseverance.

Participants have described how the program has strengthened their leadership, teamwork, initiative and empathy – skills they believe will support them both now and in the future.